CORIDON'S SONG (IN ISAAK WALTON'S 'COMPLEAT ANGLER') by JOHN CHALKHILL

OH, the sweet contentment
The countryman doth find.
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie loe.
That quiet contemplation
Possesseth all my mind:
Then care away,
And wend along with me.

For courts are full of flattery,
As hath too oft been tried;
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie lee,
The city full of wantonness,
And both are full of pride.
Then care away,
And wend along with me.

But oh, the honest countryman
Speaks truly from his heart,
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie lee.
His pride is in his tillage,
His horses and his cart:
Then care away,
And wend along with me.

Our clothing is good sheepskins,
Grey russet for our wives,
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie lee.
'Tis warmth and not gay clothing
That doth prolong our lives;
Then care away,
And uend along with me.

The ploughman, though he labour hard,
Yet on the holiday,
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie lee,
No emperor so merrily
Does pass his time away;
Then care auay,
And wend along with me.

To recompense our tillage
The heavens aflord us showers;
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie lee.
And for our sweet refreshments
The earth affords us bowers:
Then care away,
And wend along with me.

The cuckoo and the nightingale
Full merrily do sing,
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie lee,
And with their pleasant roundelays,
Bid welcome to the spring:
Then care away,
And wend along with me.

This is not half the happiness
The countryman enjoys;
High trolollie lollie loe,
High trolollie lee,
Though others think they have as much
Yet he that says so lies:
Then come away,
Turn countryman with me.

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